Small and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Program

Local small businesses support the City of Gainesville's overall economic development and the city is committed to their success, growth and development. To help these businesses be more successful, the city has adopted the Small and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Program. The program provides significant opportunities for qualified local small businesses to participate on a nondiscriminatory basis in all aspects of the city's contracting and procurement programs as well as providing other needed business services.

What does the Small and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Program offer local small businesses?

  • Listed in city's online directory of certified firms
  • Technical assistance in preparing bids
  • Other resources and services to promote business growth
  • Bid documents available at no cost
  • Business visibility via link added to bid notices
  • Purchases more than $5,000 and less than $50,000 will now require three written quotes and require one of the quotes to come from a certified small and/or service-disabled veteran business, if they exist.
  • Procurement policy now includes an incentive at the competitive level (above $50, 000).

A certified small and/or service-disabled veteran business will be given a preference of 5% of the total price not to exceed $25,000, when all of the following apply:

  1. Purchase is anticipated to be greater than $50,000;
  2. Award is based on evaluation criteria other than the lowest responsive and responsible bidder;
  3. The certified small or service-disabled veteran business being evaluated did not receive a Local Preference; and
  4. The preference is not prohibited by law.

 

How to get your business qualified?

  • Your business's principal location with full-time personnel must be located within Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, or Union County
  • Your business must meet the size requirements: Fewer than 200 employees and have a net worth less than $5 million
  • Pay required Occupational License taxes
  • Complete the small business application online 

 

For more information, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at 352-334-5051 or email: sbpp@gainesvillefl.gov.

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